Apparatus for orienting geological specimens in bore holes



A. IF. DIXON May 31, 1927.

.APPARATUS Fon ORIENTING GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS IN BoRE HOLES Filed sept.19. 1924 Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER FAISON DIXON, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO THOMAS C. BANNON AND ONE-THIRD TO DONALD UPI-IAM, BOTH OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS IN IBORE HOLES.

Application filed September 19, 1924. Serial No. 738,602.

This invention relates to apparatus for orienting or ascertaining the azimuth position of rock specimens in bore-holes, in order that when a specimen is brought to the surface its strata may reveal thel direction of the dip. p p

rlhe apparatus includes a rock penetrating tool which is lowered into the bore hole, and marks or indents the rock at the bottom of the hole, in a position eccentric in relation to the axis of a core which will subsequently be drilled out by another apparatus. 'logether with this tool there is lowered into the hole an index sheet or card, which is rotatable in relation to the tool holder, but whose position in azimuth is controlled by a compass device. Another part of the apparatus is a device for marking the index sheet, and this sheet marking device, or the path in which it moves, is in fixed positional relation to the tool holder..

About the time the tool engages the rock, or after it has engaged the rock, the sheet marking device makes a mark on the sheet, whose position in azimuth, controlled by the compass, is unaffected, or nearly unaffected, by rotation of the apparatus about its own axis, that is to say, by such rotation as may arise, for example, from twisting of the cable during the lowering of the apparatus into the bore-hole. The marking device, however, does take part in such rotation, together with the tool-holder. Hence by correlating` the position of the mark on the sheet with the position of the mark made on the rock by the tool, the original azimuth position of the specimen in the groundcan be ascertained.

For the compass device I prefer to use a gym-compass, which may be mounted in a chamber or compartment of a casing containing the tool holder and tool actuating mechanism. Alternatively, I may use a master gyro-compass which is retained on the surface of the earth, and connect the same by wires to what is called a repeater motor, lowered into the bore hole together with the index sheet, sheet marking device and tool.

ln the accompanying drawings there are shown, by way of example, two appliances embodying my invention, in Figs. l and 2 respectively, each of these figures being a vertical section showing one form of construction.

Referring first to Fig. l, the apparatus therein shown comprises a cylindrical casling, which has a shackle at the top, for sus?` part B, which may be called the tool-holder..

and is screwed to t-he rim of the part A, making a watertight joint. The compass C'is gyroscopic, and is supplied with electric current by means of wires w which pass down through the cable. The gyro-compass C is suspended to rotate freely in the chambcr A, and carries a sheet or card S, below which there is mounted, 'on top of the compartnient or chamber B, a marking device M, actuatable by an electromagnet E, so that when the magnet is momentarily energlzed by a brief current impulse the marker is rocked and pricks the sheet S. The circuit of the electromagnet is closed, when required, by a switch s in the chamber B, as will be described hereinafter.

lVithin the chamber B there is an electromotor P, supplied with current by means of wires y, which pass down through the cable, the circuit being closed by means of a switch s1, as will be described hereinafter'. By means of a train of gearing G the motor P drives a drill D, disposed eccentrically of the casing, and projecting from the bottom of the chamberB. The drill is axially movable WithinI limits, in relation to the casing, being connected by aI feather and groove F with the last member of the gear train. Upon the shank of the drill there are two collars U and V. When the apparatus is'lowered into the bore hole, and the point of the drill strikes the bottom, the drill is pushed upwards in relationto the casing and the collar U closes the motor switch s1, so that the motor is started, and drives the drill. Shortly thereafter the collar V closes the switch s in the circuit of the electromagnet E, whereby the marker M is caused to prick-the sheet S. The collar U keeps the motor switch 81 closed till the hoisting of the apparatus allows the drill to drop again, but the closing of the marker' switch s by the collar V is only momentary, as the collar merely trips the lower switcharm in the course of the upward movement' of the drill shank.

As the apparatus will usually work under water at fairly high-pressure, and it would be inconvenient to pack the-bearing-of the drill shank so tightly as to resist influx of water, I dispense with such water-ti ht packing, and contemplate that the chain er B will generally be floodedV with water while the apparatus is at work, unless I fill this chamber with oil, glycerine or the like. In order to prevent in any case access of water to the switches s and .31 I have in the example shown in Fig. 1 placed these switches in a small box O in they chamber B, and I fill this box with oil.

It will be apparent that the circuit from fthe switches s and 81 may be electricallyconnected with the electro-magnet E and the motor P through relays in the usual manner.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 I have provided a gyiooompass casing with com-- partments A1, B1, a gyro-compass C1, index sheet S1, motor P1, driving G1 and drill D1, all substantially similar toA corresponding parts described with reference to Fig. 1, but the sheet marking device M1 which I use in this modification is a stylus mounted on a carriage, which is moved along a track M' by a chain M3, the chain being actuated by a drum M4k driven by a clockwork Z, whereby the action of the sheet marking device M1 can be timed. In the example shown I use the clock also to close, by means of an arm Z1, a switch Z2 in the motor circuit, though I may alternatively start and stop the motor bymeans ofa switch at the surface of the earth. The track M1 has a horizontal portion parallel with a radius of the index .sheet S1, and while the stylus carriage is travelling on this horizontal part of the track the stylus marks the sheet. The said horizontal part of the track is approached at its inner end by a sloping portion, up which the carriage is drawn by the chain M3 when the clockwork begins to rotate the drum M1, and

at the outer end of the track there is a down-.

ward slope, whereby' the carriage is caused to remove the stylus from contact with the index sheet when 'the marking action is coinpleted.

Before the'apparatus is lowered into the ground the clockwork is wound up and set so that it will close the motor switch Z2 after a predetermined interval of time, and then impart rotation to the drum `M1,v whereby the stylus carriage is moved. The time interval is pre-determined according to the depth of the hole, the rate at which the apparatus will be lowered, and whatever other conditions -of time may be relevant.

The action of the a paratus will readily be understood from t e foregoing descrip-.

tion.

When the apparatus reaches the bottom of the hole the motor is started, and the tool makes an indentation in the rock. This indentation may be in any azimuth position,

` the position of the tool, but the position of the sheet is independent thereof, being governed by the compass. After the marking of the rock and the sheet the apparatus is hoisted to the surface, and a coring apparatus is lowered into the hole. This apparatus drills out a core or specimen, which bears the indentation previously made in the rock by the marking tool, the said indentationl being eccentric in relation to the axis of the core. Hence, when the core has been brought up, its original azimuth position in the round can readily be ascertained by corre ating the position of the indentation with the position of the mark on the index sheet, and the direction 'of the dip in the locality under examination can be -ascertained from the strata of the core.

I/Vhairl claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In apparatus for the purpose set forth the combination of a-rock indenting tool, a holder for said tool arranged to be lowered into a bore hole, a compass device connected with said tool holder and rotatable about a vertical axis in relation to said, tool holder, an index sheet carrier whose azimuth position is governed by said compass device, and a device for marking an index sheet, said device being carried by said carrier, said sheet marking. device being in lixed positional relation to said tool-holder.

2. In apparatus for the purpose set forth 4the combination of a rock indenting tool, a holder and actuating mechanism for said tool arranged to be lowered into a bore hole,

a compass device connected with said tool holder and rotatable about a vertical axis in relation to said tool-holder, an index sheet carrier whose azimuth position is governed by Isaid compass device, and a device for marking an index sheet, said device being carried by said carrier, said sheet marking device being in fixed'poistional relation to said tool-holder.

3. In apparatus for the purpose set forth the combination of a cylindrical casing arranged to be lowered into a bore hole, a rock indenting tool mounted in said casing and extending from the bottom thereof eccentrically in relation to the axis of said casing, a compass device in said casing, rotatable about the vertical axis thereof, an index sheet carrier whose azimuth position is governed by said compass device, and a device for marking an index sheet, said device being carried by V'said carrier, said sheet marking device being in fixed positional relation to said casing.

4. In apparatus for "the purpose set forth the combination of a cylindrical casing arranged to be lowered into a bore hole, a rock indenting tool mounted in said casing and extending from the bottom thereof eccentrically in relation to the axis of said casing, a compass device in said casing, rotatable about the vertical axis thereof, an index sheet carrier Whose azimuth position is governed by said compass device, and a device for marking an index sheet, said device being carried ,by said carrier, the path of said sheet marking device being in fixed positional relation to said casing.

5. In apparatus for the purpose set forth the combination of a rock penetrating tool, a holder for said tool arranged to be lowered into a bore hole, a compass device connected with said tool holder and rotatable about a vertical axis in relation to said tool-holder, an index sheet carrier Whose azimuth position is governed by said compass device, a device for marking an index sheet, said device beingr carried by said carrier, said sheet marking device being in fixed positional relation to said tool-holder, and means for actuating said sheet marking device While said tool is engaged with-rock at the bottom` of a bore hole.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification.

ABNER FAISON DIXON. 

